Former Ohio State wrestler and Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder was arrested Friday in a human trafficking sting Friday on the north side of Columbus.
Snyder, 29, is charged with engaging in prostitution. He was one of 16 men arrested as the Columbus Police PACT (Police and Community Together) Unit conducted an undercover operation to reduce prostitution on the city's North Side.
In a statement, Columbus Police said it published internet escort ads to solicit others to engage in sex for hire.
Around 8:15 p.m., officers started to receive texts and phone calls from someone responding to the ads. A date was set up at a hotel.
Police said a man later identified as Snyder arrived at the hotel and paid an undercover officer cash. Snyder was then arrested.
He was released after he received a summons to appear in court on May 19.
Columbus Police spokesperson Sgt. Joe Albert said Snyder now lives in Pennsylvania.
Snyder won a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and silver at the 2020 Tokyo games, which were held in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He placed fifth at the Paris Games in 2024. He wrestled in the 97-kilogram freestyle category.
He was a three-time NCAA champion at Ohio State and has won three world championships.
Snyder was signed last week to the Real American Freestyle wrestling league.